Integral gas burner and valve



March 1964 L. E. MOHR ETAL INTEGRAL GAS BURNER AND VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17. 1960 March 1954 1.. E. MOHR ETAL INTEGRAL GAS BURNER AND VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17., 1960 Mm MN NOW IN VEN TORS.

FIIIL I l L United States Patent 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 17, 196i), Ser. No. 69,988 8 Claims. (61. 158--1tl9) The present invention relates to a gas burner structure for use with a hot blast stove.

The burners presently used for the heating of a blast furnace generally are large, unwieldy items of equipment. They are expensive to manufacture and are complicated to operate. T o shut them down and close them oil when the blast operation of the furnace is to commence requires a number of manipulations. These manipulations are in the main at least semi-manual operations and because of the burner construction are not particularly suited to automatic operation.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel burner structure which will overcome and obviate these problems attendant upon the use of existing types of apparatus. Burners of the present invention are substantially less expensive to manufacture. They are more compact, taking less floor space. Substantially no items of auxiliary apparatus are needed. The burners are ideally suited for automatic operation or by remote control by an operator.

One of the principal problems involved in the use of gas burners with blast furnaces is the high heat present. Both conducted heat and radiant heat, as well as the high ambient temperatures, create problems that have resulted in the present types of structure used for such gas burners. With a burner embodying our invention, adequate heat protection is obtained by the particular burner structure while, at the same time, substantial advantages in simplification of structure and operation are achieved. The individual elements of our burner are so constructed and arranged that the parts directly exposed to the relatively high temperatures are adequately heat protected or are particularly suited to withstand the heat. These in turn, act as a shield to the remaining portions of the burner so that those remaining portions do not suffer heat damage.

Other objects and advantages of our invention include: the gas and air valves of the burner are for all practical purposes identical so that the parts are interchangeable and spare parts become less of a problem; when the valves are closed, the gas pressure in the stove assists in insuring no valve leakage; the structure is such that it may be readily fabricated by welding from sheets and bars or other standard shapes without the necessity of utilizing expensive castings; the unique structure for water cooling the closure members of the valves provides a long operating life before any maintenance may be required, and insures against the leakage that might be associated with packing glands or the like; and many of the elements of the structure are readily available items of hardware and machinery, thus simplifying the manufacture and maintenance.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of our invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan view as viewed along line 22 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the burner as attached to a blast furnace, and with the coolant hose connections rotated somewhat from their actual position as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated a portion B,l%,%l Patented Mar. 31, I954 of the hot blast stove generally 16 having a shell ll and a refractory lining 12. A tube 13 having a lining ll-t defines a generally cylindrical burner passageway 15. A flange 16 secured to tube 13 provides a mounting for bolting the main portion of the burner to the stove. Within passageway 15 is a tube 17 preferably of stainless steel. It is supported by fins 18 secured to tubes 17 and 13. Pins 18, of course, are thin as viewed parallel to the axis of tube 13 so as to not obstruct the air flow through passageway 15 about tube 17.

The burner comprises a housing generally 21 having a gas valve assembly generally 22 and an air valve assembly generally 23 integrally therewith. Housing 21 is formed of generally cylindrical shell 24 mounted on legs 25. Shell 24 has a flange 26 which is bolted to flange 16 by bolts 27. Housing 21 also defines a cylindrical side portion 28 leading to the air valve 23.

Within housing 21 is a gas director 2? having the shape of a truncated cone. It is formed of stainless steel and in some embodiments may be water cooled. As seen in FIGURE 2, the small end of the director 29 is immediately adjacent and spaced a very short distance from the burner end of tube 17. At this point, the diameter of the director is substantially the same diameter as that of ring 1'7.

At one end the director 29 is welded to a circular plate 31 forming one end of housing 21. At the small end the director is supported by a plurality of fins 32 aligned with fins l8. Fins 32 are attached to shell 24 and to director 29.

Iousing 21 has an annular flange 33 at the end thereof to which flange gas valve assembly 22 is bolted. A similar flange 34 on side portion 28 serves as a mounting for air valve assembly 23.

A plate 35 secured to flange 33 by bolts 36 has a circular, tapered opening therethrough which forms a valve seat 37. A valve seat assembly is formed by plate 35, a second plate 33 and a pair of cylindrical rings 39 and 40, all of which are welded together. The space between plates 35 and 38 and rings 39 and 40 forms a coolant chamber. Pipes 41 communicate with this chamber so that coolant may be circulated therethrough.

A flange 42 is attached to plate 38 by bolts 36. A cylindrical shell 43 is attached to flange 42 and defines a gas inlet chamber 44. A second flange 45 secured to the other end of shell 43 provides a mounting for the annular end wall are held in place by bolts 36. At one side of chamber 4-4 is an extending ring 47 forming an access port covered by a hinged door 48 releasably locked closed by a wing bolt 4%. Extending upwardly from chamber 44 is a gas inlet pipe 50. A drain pipe 51 having a valve 52 extends from the bottom of chamber 44.

A tube 54 is welded to plate 46. At one end tube 54 has a mounting plate 55 welded thereto While at the other end a cover plate 56 is attached by bolts 36 to end wall 46. A bearing member 57 is secured to mounting plate 55 and is held in place by wings 58. Valve rod 59 in bearing member 57 has a longitudinal key 66) therealong. Bearing 57 has a corresponding key slot and thus, while permitting valve rod 59 to move longitudinally in bearing 57, the key 69 and the key slot in the bearing prevent any rotational movement of valve rod 59 in bearing 57.

A bronze ball 62 is slipped onto the reduced end of rod 59 and is held in place by a nut 63 threaded onto the red. A closure member generally 64 is mounted on ball 62. Closure member 64 is circular as viewed from the end and is formed of two dished plates 65 and 66 Welded together. The outer periphery of plate 66 is adapted to be received in valve seat 37.

Secured to plate 66 is annular support 67 having a cover plate 68 secured thereto by screws 69. Support 67 and plate 68 form a semi-spherical recess to fit about ball 62. Thus, the closure member 64 is secured to the end of valve rod 59 while allowing it to pivot about ball 62 so that the closure member will be firmly received in seat 37. Plate 66 is provided with a pocket '76, the internal diameter of which is somewhat larger than the external diameter of the end 59:: of rod This permits closure 64 to move sufficiently with respect to rod 59 to achieve proper seating of the closure, yet prevents any substantial movement of the closure member about ball 62.

Secured to mounting plate 55 is a packing gland '72 to form a gas-tight seal about rod 59. A gear motor generally 75 is suitably bolted to cover plate 56. Gear motor 75 drives a rotating nut (not shown) received on the threads 76 of rod 59. The structure of such drives are well known in the art and will not be described in detail. See, for example, pages 1100-1106 of Plant Engineering Handbook, William Staniar (1950). The rotating nut will move valve rod 59 longitudinally thereof to move closure member 64 toward and away from seat 37. As previously mentioned, rod 59 is prevented from rotating by key 61'? and a corresponding keyway in bearing 57. Gear motor 75 has a torque limiting control (also well known in the art as shown by the foregoing reference) so that when closure member 64 is firmly seated in valve seat 42 the drive will be de-energized. A hand wheel 77 is provided to rotate the nut on thread 76 in the event that there is a power failure.

A pair of pipes 80 and 81 are secured to closure member 64, with the ends thereof at the closure member being in communication with the coolant passage 82 in the interior of the closure member. The ends of pipes 86 and 81 within chamber 44 are provided with elbows 83 and 34, respectively. A pair of pipes 85 and 86 are mounted in end wall 51. with the two pipes having elbows 87 and 88, respectively, on the chamber ends of the pipes. A stainless steel braided hose 89 connects elbows 84 and 37. A similar hose 90 connects elbows 83 and 88.

It will be noted in FIGURE 1 that pipes 85) and 81 are almost directly above each other. This is their correct positioning. In FIGURE 2 they have been rotated about 90 to facilitate their illustration. Also it will be apparent in FIGURE 1 that one of the two ends of each hose (S9 and $96) is at a greater elevation than the opposite end of the same hose. Thus, elbow S4 is above elbow S7 and elbow 88 is above elbow 83. Each hose follows a generally semi-circular path between the ends.

A further important feature is that the elbows 33 and 8% on closure member 64 are positioned so as to travel approximately an equal distance at each side of the immovable elbows 87 and 8%. Thus, when the valve is open, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, elbows 83 and 84 are at a given distance to the left of elbows 87 and 88. When the closure member s4. is seated in valve seat 37, elbows 83 and 84 would be approximately an equal distance to the right of the fixed elbows 8'7 and 88. Of course, pipes 35 and 36 are suitably connected to a source of coolant so that the temperature within closure member 64 may be controlled.

An explosion relief valve is mounted on end plate 46 and comprises an elbow @ll having a support member 92 welded thereto. A pair of ears 93 secured to a cover 94 are pivotally connected to support 92. Cover 94 is sufficiently heavy so as to remain closed over the top of elbow 91 under the normal gas pressure within chamber 4 2'. However, should an ignition of gas occur within chamber 4-4, building up an undue pressure therein, cover 94 will be forced to pivot upwardly by the pressure. This relieves the pressure in chamber 44 and prevents an explosion of the chamber structure.

The structure of air valve assembly 23 is identical with the structure of gas valve assembly 22 just described except for the fact that the air inlet pipe 95 is mounted at the bottom of the valve chamber 96, rather than at the top as is gas inlet pipe Si) and with respect to gas chamber 24. Accordingly, all portions of the air valve are identified with numbers corresponding to identical portions of the gas valve, the reference numbers of the air valve having the prime added thereto. In view of the previous detailed description of gas valve assembly 22 and the identity therebetween, it is not believed necessary to describe air valve assembly 23 in detail. However, it might be pointed out that it includes a water cooled valve seat assembly generally 97 defining a valve seat 93 therein. A closure member generally 99 is mounted to move in and away from seat 98 by the identical structure and mechanism described with respect to gas valve assembly 22.

The operation of the burner will be readily understood from the foregoing by those skilled in the art. When the burner is operating to heat the blast furnace, both of closure members 64 and 99 will be positioned away from their respective seats, as illustrated in the drawings. The gas from pipe Stl will fiow through chamber 44, the valve opening, the center of director 29 and the center of tube 17 into the interior of the furnace. The air will flow from pipe 95 through chamber 96, the valve opening, and about director 29 and tube 17 and into the furnace. By this construction, almost all of the combustion will take place within the furnace itself rather than in any portions of the burner.

When the blast in the furnace is to be started, the two valve closures 64 and 99 are moved back into firm contact with their respective seats. The ball joint mounting of the closure members aids in obtaining a firm seating. Furthermore, since these closure members seat on the furnace side of the valves, the pressure within the blast furnace when the blast is going will act to more firmly seat the closure members against the valve seats, rather than tending to cause any leakage such as is the case with respect to some other types of valves.

Except for the two portions of housing 21 which are defined by cooled valve seat assemblies the remainder of the interior of the housing is lined with a suitable refractory material 1G2. The portions of the burner that are most directly exposed to the radiant heat from the furnace would be tube 17. However, this tube is not directly in contact with any of the functioning parts of the burner and is formed of a material reasonably stable at V the temperatures involved so that it is not deleteriously affected.

The interchangeability of the parts of the valve and the ease with which they may be removed for servicing will be readily apparent to, and appreciated by, those skilled in the art. The burner is quite different in this respect from prior art structures in general use. The housings on which the valve operating mechanism is mounted can easily be unbolted as can be the water cooled valve seat assemblies.

The foregoing description of a specific embodiment is for the purpose of complying with 35 U.S.C. 112 and should not be construed as imposing unnecessary limitations upon the appended claims inasmuch as modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. An improved valve construction comprising a valve housing with one wall thereof having an opening therethrough defining a valve seat, said Wall having a coolant passage therein surrounding said seat; a valve closure member movable between a first position against said seat defining a valve closed position to a second position defining valve opened position wherein the closure member is axially spaced from said seat, said closure member having a coolant passage therein; a first pair of pipes having one end of each secured to the coolant passageway of said closure member and in fluid communication therewith, the other ends of each of said first pair of pipes extending into said valve housing; a second pair of pipes extending into said valve housing from the outside thereof, the housing ends of said second pair of pipes within said housing being at one side of said other ends of said first pipes, respectively, and in a position to be about midway between the extreme positions defined by the said other ends of the first pipes when said closure member is in said first and second positions, respectively; a flexible hose connecting the other end of one of the first pipes with the housing end of a second pipe; a flexible hose connecting the other end of the other first pipe with the housing end of the other second pipe; a valve operating rod extending through said housing in co-axial relation to the axis of said opening in said wall, said rod being mounted for movement axially of said housing; a ball joint connecting the housing side of said closure member with the adjacent end of the rod; and means outside said housing and connected to said rod to move said rod axially to thereby move said closure member between said first and second positions.

2. An improved valve construction comprising a valve housing with one wall thereof having a circular opening therethrough defining a valve seat, said wall having a coolant passage therein surrounding said seat; a circular valve closure member movable between a first position against said seat defining a valve closed position to a second position defining valve opened position wherein the closure member is axially spaced from said seat, said closure member having a coolant passageway therein; a first pair of pipes having one end of each secured to the coolant passageway of said closure member in fluid communication therewith, the other ends of each of said first pair of pipes extending into said chamber said other ends of said two pipes being positioned generally vertically with respect to each other; a second pair of pipes extending into said chamber from the outside thereof, the ends of said second pair of pipes within said chamber being at one side of said other ends of said first pipes, respectively, and in a position to be about midway between the extreme positions defined by said other ends when said closure member is in said first and second positions, respectively, the end of one of the second pipes within said chamber being above the other end of the lowermost first pipe, the end of the other of the second pipes within said chamber being below the other end of the uppermost first pipe; a flexible hose connecting the valve housing end of one of the second pipes with said other end of the lowermost first pipe; a flexible hose connecting the valve housing end of the other of the second pipes with said other end of the uppermost first pipe; each of said hoses forming a curvilinear loop between the connected ends thereof; and closure operating means operatively associated with said valve closure means and adapted to move said closure member between said first and second positions, respectively.

3. An improved valve construction comprising a Valve housing with one wall thereof having a circular opening therethrough defining a valve seat, said wall having a coolant pasageway therein surrounding said seat; a circular valve closure member movable between a first position against said seat defiinng the valve closed position to a second position defining the valve open position wherein the closure member is axially spaced from said seat, said closure member having a coolant passageway therein; a first pair of pipes having one end of each secured to the coolant passageway of said closure member in fluid communication therewith, the other ends of each of said first pair of pipes extending into said housing, said other ends of said two pipes being positioned generally vertically with respect to each other; a second pair of pipes extending into said housing from the outside thereof, the ends of said second pair of pipes within said housing being at one side of said other ends of said first pipes, respectively, and in a position to be about midway between the extreme positions defined by said other ends when said closure member is in said first and second positions, respectively, the end of one of the second pipes within said housing being above the other end of the lowermost first pipe, the end of the other of the second pipes within the housing being below the other end of the uppermost first pipe; a flexible hose connecting the housing end of said one of the second pipes with said other end of the lowermost first pipe; a flexible hose connecting the housing end of the other of the second pipes with said other end of the uppermost first pipe; each of said hoses forming .a curvilinear loop between the connected ends thereof; a valve rod extending through said housing in alignment with the axis of said circular opening, said rod being mounted for movement axially thereof and mounted against rotational movement with respect to said housing; a ball joint connecting said housing side of said closure member with the adjacent end of the rod; and means outside said housing and connected to said rod to move said rod axially to thereby move said closure member between valve open and valve closed positions.

4. An improved gas burner structure tor a hot blast stove comprising: a burner housing having an outlet opening and gas and air inlet ports; a truncated conical gas director tube mounted within said housing, the small end of said director tube being disposed adjacent said burner housing outlet opening in axially aligned relation therewith the lar-ge end of said tube extending across the gas inlet port of said housing; a gas inlet valve positioned across the large end of the director, said gas inlet valve including a valve seat member mounted in said gas inlet port and extending across the large end of the truncated conical gas director tube and a valve closure member movable axially with respect to said director toward and away from said seat member, said seat member and valve closure member of the gas inlet valve having cool-ant passageways therein; means on the opposite side of said seat member from said director and connected to said valve closure member to move said closure member from a first position to contact with said seat member defining the valve closed position to a second opened position wherein the closure member extends to a position axially spaced from said seat member; an air inlet valve positioned at a side of said housing between the ends of said director and in said inlet port, said air valve including a valve seat member and a valve closure member movable along a line substantially normal to said director axis, said air valve members having coolant passageways therein; and means on the opposite side of said air valve member from said director and connected to said air valve closure member to move said closure member from a first position in contact with said air valve seat member defining valve closed position to a second valve opened position wherein the valve closure member is in axially spaced relation to said seat member.

5 An improved gas burner structre for a hot blast stove comprising: a burner housing K raving an outlet opening and gas and inlet ports; a truncated conical gas director member disposed within said housing, the small end of the director being disposed adjacent said burner housing outlet opening the large end of said director being disposed across the gas inlet port; a gas inlet valve mounted on the burner housing across the large end or" the director, said gas valve including a valve seat member mounted in said gas inlet port extending across the large end of the director and a valve closure member movable axially with respect to said seat member, said members having coolant passageways therein; a first closed chamber on the opposite side of said gas inlet valve seat member from said director, a gas inlet said chamber; valve operating means extending through said first chamber and connected to said closure member and adapted to move said closure member from a first position in contact with said seat member defining valve closed position to a second position defining valve opened position wherein the closure aiaaoat member extends inwardly of said director; an air inlet valve positioned at a side of said housing between the ends of said director and in said air inlet port, said air valve including a valve seat member and a valve closure member movable along a line substantially normal to the axis of said director, said air valve members having coolant passageways therein; a second closed chamber on the opposite side of said air valve seat member from said director, an inlet in said second chamber; valve operating means extending through said second chamber and operatively interconnected to said air valve closure member to move said closure member from a first position in contact with said air valve seat member defining valve closed position to a second position defining the valve opened position wherein the valve closure member is in axially spaced relation to said seat member.

6. An improved gas burner structure for a hot blast stove comprising: a burner housing having an outlet opening and gas and air inlet ports; a truncated conical gas director mounted Within said housing, the small end of said director being disposed adjacent said burner housing outlet opening in axially aligned relation therewith the large end of said director extending across the gas inlet opening; a gas inlet valve positioned across the large end of the director and a valve closure member movable axially with respect to the seat member, said members having coolant passageways therein; a first closed chamber on the opposite side of said seat member from said director, a gas inlet in said chamber; a Valve operating rod extending through said first chamber and disposed substantially coaxially with the axis of said director; a ball joint interconnecting one end of said rod with said closure member; means adapted to support said rod :for axial movement and to resist rotational movement thereof; means outside of said first chamber and connected to said rod and adapted to move said rod axially therein; an air inlet valve positioned at a side of said housing, said air valve including a valve seat member and a valve closure member, said air valve members having coolant passageways therein; a second closed chamber on the opposite side of said air valve seat member from said director, an air inlet in said second chamber; a second valve operating rod extending through said second chamber; a ball joint connecting one end of the second rod with said air valve closure member; means supporting said second rod for axial movement and resisting rotational movement thereof; means outside said second chamber and connected to said second rod to move said second rod axially thereof; and coolant conduit means connected to said air valve coolant passageways.

7. An improved gas burner structure for a hot blast stove comprising: a burner housing having an outlet opening and gas and air inlet openings; a truncated conical gas director tube mounted within said housing, the small end of said director tube being disposed adjacent said burner housing outlet opening the large end of said director being disposed across said gas inlet opening; a gas inlet valve positioned across the large end of the director, said gas inlet valve including a valve seat member in said gas inlet opening extending across the large end of the truncated conical gas director tube and a valve closure member movable axially with respect to said director toward and away from said seat member, said seat member and valve closure member of the gas inlet valve having coolant passageways therein; a first closed chamber on the opposite side of said seat member from said director, a gas inlet in said first chamber; a valve operating means extending through said first chamber and connected to said closure member to move said closure/member from a first position in contact with said seat member defining valve closed position to a second position defining valve opened position where said closure member is axially spaced from said seat member; an air inlet valve positioned at the side of said housing, said air valve including a valve seat member in the air inlet opening and a valve closure member movable axially along a line normal to the director axis, said air valve members having coolant passages therein; a second closed chamber on the opposite side of the air valve closed position to a second position defining valve seat member from said director, an air inlet in said second chamber; valve operating means extending through said second chamber and connected to said air valve closure member to move said closure member from a first position in contact with said air valve seat member defining valve open position wherein said closure member is axially spaced from said seat member thus defining an annular open passage between said closure member and said seat member; and coolant conduit means connected to said coolant passages.

8. An improved gas burner structure for a hot blast stove comprising, in combination: a burner housing having an outlet opening and having separate gas and air inlet openings; a truncated conical gas director tube mounted within said housing, the small end of said tube being positioned adjacent the outlet opening of said housing and the large end of said tube being positioned adjacent the gas inlet opening of said housing; a gas inlet valve disposed Within the gas inlet opening of the burner housing, said gas valve including a valve seat member and a valve closure member, said closure member being movable toward and away from said seat to close said valve and to seal the gas inlet opening, said seat member and closure member having coolant passages therein; means on the opposite side of said seat member from said director and connected to the valve closure member to move said closure from a first position to contact with said seat opening defining valve closed position to a second position defining valve open position wherein the closure member extends to a position spaced from said seat member; an air inlet valve disposed with the air inlet opening of the burner housing, said air inlet valve including a valve seat member, said closure member being movable toward and away trom said seat to close said valve and to seal the air inlet opening, said seat member and closure member having coolant passages therein; and means on the opposite side of the air inlet valve seat member from the director and connected to the valve closure member to move said closure member from a first position to contact with said seat opening defining valve closed position to a second position defining valve open position wherein the closure member extends to a position spaced 'firom said seat member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,182,016 Kennedy May 9', 1916 1,186,860 Sturtevant June "13, 1916 1,283,0110 Wolff Oct. 29, 1918 1,323,328 Slick et al Dec. 2, 1919 1,563,605 Wilcox et a1. Dec. '1, 1925 1,584,975 Brenner May 18, 1926 1,713,313 Willcox May 14, 1929 2,269,699 Stoecker et al Jan. 13, 1942 2,692,914 MacCraeken Oct. 19, 1954 3,070,152 Neely Dec. 25, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 904,4521 Germany Feb. 18, 1954 

1. AN IMPROVED VALVE CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A VALVE HOUSING WITH ONE WALL THEREOF HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH DEFINING A VALVE SEAT, SAID WALL HAVING A COOLANT PASSAGE THEREIN SURROUNDING SAID SEAT; A VALVE CLOSURE MEMBER MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION AGAINST SAID SEAT DEFINING A VALVE CLOSED POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION DEFINING VALVE OPENED POSITION WHEREIN THE CLOSURE MEMBER IS AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAID SEAT, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING A COOLANT PASSAGE THEREIN; A FIRST PAIR OF PIPES HAVING ONE END OF EACH SECURED TO THE COOLANT PASSAGEWAY OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND IN FLUID COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, THE OTHER ENDS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF PIPES EXTENDING INTO SAID VALVE HOUSING; A SECOND PAIR OF PIPES EXTENDING INTO SAID VALVE HOUSING FROM THE OUTSIDE THEREOF, THE HOUSING ENDS OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF PIPES WITHIN SAID HOUSING BEING AT ONE SIDE OF SAID OTHER ENDS OF SAID FIRST PIPES, RESPECTIVELY, AND IN A POSITION TO BE 